Últimas novedades en hipertensión. Congreso Americano de Hipertensión Arterial 2006

In May of this year, the 21st American Congress of AHT was held. There were debates and scientific sessions in it in which aspects of interest and novelties in the evaluation and treatment of hypertensive patients were reviewed. Debates on metabolic syndrome, metabolic disorders related with some antihypertensive drugs, to the prevention of diabetes and use of beta blockers in the first treatment step of hypertension and prognostic value of masked hypertension and white coat hypertension must be stressed. On the other hand, the role of inflammation in the pathogeny of the atherosclerotic condition was spoken about and the interest for using strategies to measure the vascular function was manifested. Techniques such as pulse wave rate, ankle-arm index and increase index stood out. Some of the novelties to stress were possible utility of a drug in the prevention of hypertension, a new therapeutic target such as the inhibition of renin and the possible relationship of a hormone, synthesized in the kidney and that intervenes in the catabolism of catecholamines, with cardiovascular disease.